Method and device for processing communication path

ABSTRACT

A method and a device for processing a communication path are provided. The method includes: obtaining a path processing parameter from local configuration information or from a control layer device, obtaining path information and/or a restarting counter parameter from the control layer device; increasing a path with an opposite-end device when the path information is of increasing a path, identifying the state of the path and/or the state of the opposite-end device using the path processing parameter and/or the restarting counter parameter the opposite-end device; reporting the fault state of the path and/or the reset state of the opposite-end device to the control layer device when the path fails and/or the opposite-end device is reset, releasing sessions on the failed path and/or on a path connected with the reset opposite-end device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/291,838, filed on Oct. 12, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/610,693, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,503,317, which is a continuation of International ApplicationNo. PCT/CN2012/079472, filed on Aug. 1, 2012. All of the afore-mentionedpatent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field ofcommunication, and in particular, to a method and a device forprocessing a communication path.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the development of mobile internet services, as well as theintegration of many types of mobile access networks, a gateway deviceneeds to develop gradually toward a more refined service control andcharging function on the basis of completing the basic data forwardingfunction, thereby supporting richer service implementation and controlof the operators.

Currently, under the existing control and forwarding decouplingarchitecture, the gateway device is divided into two parts, which arerespectively called a control layer device and a forwarding layerdevice. The control layer device processes signaling with externaldevices, such as the signaling with the Authentication, Authorization,and Accounting (AAA) server, the signaling with the Policy and ChargingRules Function (PCRF) and so on. After completing the signalingnegotiation, the control layer device sends signaling or information tobe forwarded by the forwarding layer device to the forwarding layerdevice, the forwarding layer device forwards the signaling orinformation to be forwarded to the external devices. Therefore, thecurrent control layer device is responsible for processing thesignaling, the forwarding layer device is responsible for forwarding thecorresponding signaling or information.

It is defined in the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) protocol that thecontrol layer device identifies the state of an opposite-end device andwhether the corresponding transmission link fails, and performscorresponding process to the failed path and the opposite-end devicereset, the forwarding layer device only needs to transparently transmitthe corresponding signaling or information of path management mechanismin two directions, therefore, the deficiencies in the prior art arethat:

Since the control layer device generally needs to be interconnected witha large number of base stations, base station controllers and othergateway devices, and each external device may also adopt multiple IPaddresses, and thus a huge number of path states and the states of thecorresponding opposite-end devices needs to be identified, the controllayer device also needs to transparently transmit a lot of informationthrough the forwarding layer device, thus significant signaling load iscaused on the interface between the control layer device and theforwarding plane device, moreover, when the interface between thecontrol layer device and the forwarding plane device fails, misjudgmentof the path state by the control layer device will be caused, andmeanwhile misjudgment of the state of the opposite-end devicecorresponding to the path will also be caused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present disclosure is to provide a method and a devicefor processing a communication path, so as to solve the problem in theprior art that a lot of signaling and information load is caused on theinterface between a control layer device and a forwarding plane device,and the problem of misjudgment.

In a first aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide amethod for processing a communication path, the method includes:

obtaining a path managing parameter from local configuration informationor from a control plane device, obtaining path information and/or arestarting counter parameter from the control layer device;

increasing a path with an opposite-end device when the path informationis of increasing a path, identifying the state of the path and/or thestate of the opposite-end device using the path managing parameterand/or the restarting counter parameter replied by the opposite-enddevice;

reporting the fault state of the path and/or the reset state of theopposite-end device to the control layer device when the path failsand/or the opposite-end device is reset, releasing sessions on thefailed path and/or on a path connected with the reset opposite-enddevice.

In a second aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide amethod for processing a communication path, the method includes:

obtaining path managing parameter from local configuration informationor from a control plane device, obtaining session information and/or arestarting counter parameter from the control layer device;

determining whether to increase a path with an opposite-end device whenthe session information is of establishing a session;

if increasing the path with the opposite-end device, identifying thestate of the path and/or the state of the opposite-end device using thepath managing parameter and/or the restarting counter parameter repliedby the opposite-end device;

reporting the fault state of the path and/or the reset state of theopposite-end device to the control layer device when the path failsand/or the opposite-end device is reset, releasing all sessions on thefailed path and/or on a path connected with the reset opposite-enddevice.

In a third aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide adevice for processing a communication path, the device includes:

an obtaining unit, configured to obtain path managing parameter fromlocal configuration information or from a control plane device, obtainpath information and/or a restarting counter parameter from the controllayer device, and send the obtained path managing parameter, pathinformation and/or restarting counter parameter to an identifying unit;

the identifying unit, configured to receive the path managing parameter,the path information and/or the restarting counter parameter sent by theobtaining unit, increase a path with an opposite-end device when thepath information is of increasing a path, identify the state of the pathand/or the state of the opposite-end device using the path managingparameter and/or the restarting counter parameter replied by theopposite-end device, and send the state of the path and/or the state ofthe opposite-end device to an executing unit;

the executing unit, configured to receive the state of the path and/orthe state of the opposite-end device sent by the identifying unit,report the fault state of the path and/or the reset state of theopposite-end device to the control layer device when the path failsand/or the opposite-end device is reset, and release sessions on afailed path and/or on a path connected with the reset opposite-enddevice.

In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide adevice for processing a communication path, the device includes:

an obtaining unit, configured to obtain a path managing parameter fromlocal configuration information or from a control layer device, obtainsession information and/or a restarting counter parameter from thecontrol layer device, send the session information to a determiningunit, and send the path managing parameter and/or the restarting counterparameter to an identifying unit;

the determining unit, configured to receive the session information,when the session information is of establishing a session, determinewhether to increase a path with an opposite-end device, and send adetermining result to the identifying unit;

the identifying unit, configured to receive the path managing parameterand/or the restarting counter parameter sent by the obtaining unit andreceive the determining result sent by the determining unit, ifincreasing the path with the opposite-end device, identify the state ofthe path and/or the state of the opposite-end device using the pathmanaging parameter and/or the restarting counter parameter replied bythe opposite-end device, and send the identified state of the pathand/or the state of the opposite-end device to an executing unit;

the executing unit, configured to receive the state of the path and/orthe state of the opposite-end device sent by the identifying unit,report the fault state of the path and/or the reset state of theopposite-end device to the control layer device when the path failsand/or the opposite-end device is reset, and release all sessions on thefailed path and/or on a path connected with the reset opposite-enddevice.

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide adevice for processing a communication path, the device includes:

a receiver, configured to obtain a path managing parameter from localconfiguration information or from a control plane device, obtain pathinformation and/or a restarting counter parameter from the control layerdevice, and send the obtained path managing parameter, path informationand/or restarting counter parameter to a processor;

the processor, configured to receive the path managing parameter, thepath information and/or the restarting counter parameter sent by thereceiver, increase a path with an opposite-end device when the pathinformation is of increasing a path, identify the state of the pathand/or the state of the opposite-end device using the path managingparameter and/or the restarting counter parameter replied by theopposite-end device;

the processor is also configured to report the state of the path and/orthe state of the opposite-end device to the control layer device whenthe path fails and/or the opposite-end device is reset, and release allsessions on the failed path and/or on a path connected with the resetopposite-end device;

a memory, configured to store execution procedure of the processor.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure provide adevice for processing a communication path, the device includes:

a receiver, configured to obtain a path managing parameter from localconfiguration information or from a control layer device, obtain sessioninformation and/or a restarting counter parameter from the control layerdevice, and send the obtained path managing parameter, sessioninformation and/or restarting counter parameter to a processor;

the processor, configured to receive the path managing parameter, thesession information and/or the restarting counter parameter sent by thereceiver, when the session information is of establishing a session,determine whether to increase a path with an opposite-end device;

the processor is also configured to, if increasing the path with theopposite-end device, identify the state of the path and/or the state ofthe opposite-end device using the path managing parameter and/or therestarting counter parameter replied by the opposite-end device;

the processor is also configured to report the fault state of the pathand/or the reset state of the opposite-end device to the control layerdevice when the path fails and/or the opposite-end device is reset, andrelease all sessions on the failed path and/or on a path connected withthe reset opposite-end device;

a memory, configured to store execution procedure of the processor.

By applying a method and a device for processing a communication pathaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure, a forwarding layerdevice obtains various parameters from a control layer device or localnetwork system, determines, according to the instruction of the controllayer device or by itself, whether to establish or delete a path with anopposite-end device, and identifies the state of the path and the stateof the opposite-end device using the obtained various parameters andreports to the control layer device, performs corresponding processaccording to the processing information of the control layer device,compared to the prior art, signaling or information between the controllayer device and the forwarding layer device is reduced, and misjudgmentof the path or the opposite-end device reset is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for processing a communication pathaccording to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a signaling flowchart of the method for processing thecommunication path according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a signaling flowchart of obtaining information from a controllayer device according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a signaling flowchart of obtaining information from localconfiguration information according to embodiment 1 of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a signaling flowchart of identifying the state of a path andthe state of an opposite-end device according to embodiment 1 of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for processing a communication pathaccording to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a signaling flowchart of the method for processing thecommunication path according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a signaling flowchart of obtaining information from a controllayer device according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a signaling flowchart of obtaining information from localconfiguration information according to embodiment 2 of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 is a signaling flowchart of identifying the state of a path andthe state of an opposite-end device according to embodiment 2 of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a device for processing a communication path,which is used to implement the method of embodiment 1, according toembodiment 3 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a device for processing a communication path,which is used to implement the method of embodiment 2, according toembodiment 4 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a device for processing a communication path,which is used to implement the method of embodiment 1, according toembodiment 5 of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 14 is a diagram of a device for processing a communication path,which is used to implement the method of embodiment 2, according toembodiment 6 of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In order to illustrate the objects, technical solutions and advantagesof the present disclosure more clearly, embodiments of the presentdisclosure are described in further details with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

A method for processing a communication path, which is disclosed inembodiments of the present disclosure, is described in details takingFIG. 1 as an example, and FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method forprocessing a communication path according to embodiment 1 of the presentdisclosure.

In the method for processing the communication path according toembodiments of the present disclosure, a forwarding layer device obtainsa path managing parameter from local configuration information or from acontrol layer device, obtains path information and/or a restartingcounter parameter from the control layer device, the forwarding layerdevice identifies the state of a path and/or the state of anopposite-end device according to the obtained related information, theforwarding layer device reports the identified fault state of the pathand/or the reset state of the opposite-end device to the control layerdevice when identifying that the path fails and/or the opposite-enddevice is reset, meanwhile, releases sessions on the failed path and/oron a path connected with the reset opposite-end device, the executivebody in the embodiment of the present disclosure is the forwarding layerdevice, as shown in FIG. 1, and combined with the signaling flowchart inFIG. 2, which is a signaling flowchart of the method for processing thecommunication path according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure,the following steps are needed for implementing the method forprocessing the communication path, which specifically include:

Step 110, The forwarding layer device obtains the path managingparameter from the local configuration information or from the controllayer device, and obtains the path information and/or the restartingcounter parameter from the control layer device;

Specifically, in one implementing mode, as shown in FIG. 3, which is asignaling flowchart of obtaining information from the control layerdevice according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, at first,the control layer device performs communication negotiation with theopposite-end device, where the communication negotiation specificallyis: a communication negotiation with an opposite-end device which isready to establish a communication path about establishing the session,or a communication negotiation with an opposite-end device which hasalready established a communication path about whether to release thesession, the communication negotiation is the prior art, which will notbe repeated here, after the communication negotiation with theopposite-end device, the control layer device determines whether theforwarding layer needs to increase a path (or delete a path), aftercompleting the determination, the control layer device will send thepath managing parameter, the path information and/or the restartingcounter parameter to the forwarding layer device;

The path managing parameter includes: a sending period, a timethreshold, a threshold of times and other parameters. The pathinformation carries a session path type (GTP or PMIP (Proxy MobileIPv6)), a source IP address, a source port, a destination IP address,and a destination port.

In another implementing mode, as shown in FIG. 4, which is a signalingflowchart of obtaining information from the local configurationinformation according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; theforwarding layer device obtains a path managing parameter from the localconfiguration information, and then the control layer device performscommunication negotiation with the opposite-end device, thecommunication negotiation specifically is: a communication negotiationwith an opposite-end device which is ready to establish a communicationpath about establishing the session, or a communication negotiation withan opposite-end device which has already established a communicationpath about whether to release the session, the communication negotiationis the prior art, which will not be repeated here, after thecommunication negotiation with the opposite-end device, the controllayer device determines whether the forwarding layer needs to increase apath (or delete a path), after completing the determination, the controllayer device will send the path information and/or the restartingcounter parameter to the forwarding layer device;

The path managing parameter includes: a sending period, a timethreshold, a threshold of times and other parameters. The pathinformation carries a session path type (GTP or PMIP), a source IPaddress, a source port, a destination IP address, and a destinationport.

Step 120, Increasing a path with the opposite-end device when the pathinformation is of increasing a path, identifying the state of the pathand/or the state of the opposite-end device using the path managingparameter and/or the restarting counter parameter replied by theopposite-end device;

Specifically, according to the description of step 110, the controllayer device communicates with the opposite-end device about being readyto establish GTP bearer or PMIP session, the control layer devicedetermines whether to increase a path, if it deems necessary to increasethe path, carries information of increasing a path in the pathinformation, and sends the path information to the forwarding layerdevice, instructs the forwarding layer device to establish the path withthe opposite-end device; the forwarding layer device increases,according to the path information of the control layer device, the pathwith the opposite-end device which communicates with the control layerdevice;

After increasing the path with the opposite-end device, the forwardinglayer device sends response information to the control layer device, andsets a path counter for this path; the response information is used tonotify the control layer device that the path has been increased withthe opposite-end device;

Optionally, after increasing the path with the opposite-end device, theforwarding layer device can also receive a path label which is set forthe path by the control layer device; or the forwarding layer deviceself-defines a path label set for the path; or the forwarding layerdevice identifies the path using the path type, the path IP address, andthe path port carried in the path information, so that the responseinformation also includes the path label of the path;

According to the description of step 110, the control layer devicecommunicates with the opposite-end device about being ready to releaseGTP bearer or PMIP session, the control layer device determines whetherto delete the path, if it deems necessary to delete the path, carriesinformation of deleting the path in the path information, and sends thepath information to the forwarding layer device, instructs theforwarding layer device to delete the path with the opposite-end device;the forwarding layer device deletes, according to the path informationof the control layer device, the existing path with the opposite-enddevice, and sends response information to the control layer device, tonotify the control layer device that the existing path with theopposite-end device has been deleted;

It should be noted that, it has been described in step 110 that the pathmanaging parameter can be obtained from the local configurationinformation of the forwarding layer or from the control layer device,when the values of the obtained path managing parameter are different,the path managing parameter sent by the control layer device is used inpreference, moreover, the path managing parameter sent by the controllayer device is applicable for one path as well as a plurality of paths;

The forwarding layer device identifies the state of the path and/or thestate of the opposite-end device using the obtained path managingparameter and/or the restarting counter parameter, the specific processis, as shown in FIG. 5, which is a signaling flowchart of identifyingthe state of the path and the state of the opposite-end device accordingto embodiment 1 of the present disclosure:

according to the time threshold, the forwarding layer device sends echorequest information to the opposite-end device periodically, the periodcan be set as needed, such as 30 seconds; the echo request informationcan further include the restarting counter parameter, the forwardinglayer device determines whether the echo response information sent bythe opposite-end device is received within the time threshold; if theforwarding layer device receives the echo response information sent bythe opposite-end device within the time threshold, the forwarding layerdevice clears the path counter of this path, meanwhile, determineswhether the echo response information includes the restarting counterparameter replied by the opposite-end device, if the echo responseinformation includes the restarting counter parameter replied by theopposite-end device, identifies whether the value of the restartingcounter parameter is changed (generally, whether the value of therestarting counter parameter is incremented by 1), if the value of therestarting counter parameter is incremented by 1, the forwarding layerdevice confirms that the opposite-end device has been reset, then setsthe state of the opposite-end device as a reset state;

if the echo response information sent by the opposite-end device is notreceived within the time threshold, the forwarding layer device makesthe value of the path counter of this path be incremented by 1;

then the forwarding layer device determines whether the value of thepath counter of this path exceeds the threshold of times; if the valueof the path counter of this path exceeds the threshold of times, setsthe state of this path as a fault state.

Step 130, The forwarding layer device reports the fault state of thepath and/or the reset state of the opposite-end device to the controllayer device when the path fails and/or the opposite-end device isreset, releases sessions on the failed path and/or on a path connectedwith the reset opposite-end device.

Specifically, according to the description of step 120, when the pathfails and/or the opposite-end device is reset, the forwarding layerdevice reports the fault state of the path and/or the reset state of theopposite-end device to the control layer device using the path label orusing the path type, the path IP address, and the path port carried inthe path information in step 120, meanwhile, releases the sessions onthe failed path and/or on the path connected with the reset opposite-enddevice by itself;

When the state of the path is the fault state, after reporting the faultstate of the path to the control layer device, the forwarding layerdevice releases all sessions on the failed path, clears the informationof the failed path, such as GTP bearer or PMIP session, or directlydelete the failed path;

When the state of the opposite-end device is the reset state, afterreporting the reset state of the opposite-end device to the controllayer device, the forwarding layer device releases all sessions on thepath, clears the information of the path, such as GTP bearer or PMIPsession, or directly delete the path;

Optionally, after the forwarding layer device processes the path withfault state or the reset state of the opposite-end device, it can alsoinclude steps of: receiving reset information of the control layerdevice itself which is sent by the control layer device, the resetinformation includes the restarting counter parameter which is reset bythe control layer device; sending notification information carrying thereset restarting counter parameter to the opposite-end device whichcommunicates with the control layer device, so that the opposite-enddevice can be notified that the control layer device resets itself; thesteps can be performed at any of the steps above;

Specifically, when the control layer device fails, the control layerdevice resets itself, after resetting itself, the control layer devicesends the reset information of itself to the forwarding layer device,the forwarding layer device receives the reset information of thecontrol layer device itself which is sent by the control layer device,where the reset information includes the restarting counter parameterwhich is reset by the control layer device; after receiving therestarting counter parameter which is reset by the control layer device,the forwarding layer device sends the notification information carryingthe reset restarting counter parameter to the opposite-end device whichcommunicates with the control layer device, so that all the opposite-enddevices can be notified that the control layer device resets itself, andcan reset the restarting counter parameters.

Optionally, after the forwarding layer device processes the path withfault state or the reset state of the opposite-end device, it can alsoinclude the step of: receiving first interface fault processinginformation sent by the control layer device;

Specifically, the control layer device also sends the first interfacefault processing information to the forwarding layer device, so as toinstruct the process mode of the forwarding layer device processinginterface fault when a problem of the interface between the controllayer device and the forwarding layer device occurs, the step can beperformed at any of the steps above;

The first interface fault processing information is instructed by thecontrol layer device for any or all of the sessions, the forwardinglayer device receives the first interface fault processing informationsent by the control layer device; the first interface fault processinginformation instructed by the control layer device for any of thesessions is set as the first priority, the first interface faultprocessing information instructed by the control layer device for all ofthe sessions is set as the second priority; or

The forwarding layer device self-defines second interface faultprocessing information, the self-defined second interface faultprocessing information is set as the third priority;

The first priority is higher than the second priority and the thirdpriority, the second priority is higher than the third priority;

When the interface with the control layer device fails, the forwardinglayer device processes according to the priority of the receivedinterface fault processing information;

The interface fault processing information specifically is: terminatingthe connected session immediately when the interface with the controllayer device fails; or terminating the connected session after theallocated quota is exhausted when the interface with the control layerdevice fails; or keeping the connected session when the interface withthe control layer device fails.

By applying the method for processing the communication path accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure, the forwarding layer deviceobtains various parameters from the control layer device or the localconfiguration information, increases or deletes the path with theopposite-end device according to the instruction of the control layerdevice, and identifies the state of the path and the state of theopposite-end device using the obtained various parameters, and performscorresponding process to the failed path and/or the path connected withthe reset opposite-end device, compared to the prior art, the controllayer device performs corresponding process by itself to the failed pathor the path connected with the reset opposite-end device, signaling orinformation between the control layer device and the forwarding layerdevice is reduced, and misjudgment of the path or the opposite-enddevice reset is reduced.

In order to illustrate the objects, technical solutions and advantagesof the present disclosure more clearly, embodiments of the presentdisclosure are described in further details with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

A method for processing a communication path, which is disclosed inembodiments of the present disclosure, is described in details takingFIG. 6 as an example, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method forprocessing a communication path according to embodiment 2 of the presentdisclosure

In the method for processing the communication path according to theembodiment of the present disclosure, a forwarding layer device obtainsa path managing parameter from local configuration information or from acontrol layer device, obtains session information and/or a restartingcounter parameter from the control layer device, the forwarding layerdevice identifies whether to increase or delete a path with anopposite-end device according to the session information, if increasingthe path with the opposite-end device, identifies the state of the pathand/or the state of the opposite-end device, the forwarding layer devicereports the identified fault state of the path and/or the reset state ofthe opposite-end device to the control layer device when identifyingthat the path fails and/or the opposite-end device is reset, meanwhile,releases sessions on the failed path and/or on the path connected withthe reset opposite-end device, the executive body in the embodiment ofthe present disclosure is the forwarding layer device, as shown in FIG.6, and combined with the signaling flowchart in FIG. 7, which is asignaling flowchart of the method for processing the communication pathaccording to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure, the following stepsare needed for implementing the method for processing the communicationpath, which specifically include:

Step 610, The forwarding layer device obtains the path managingparameter from the local configuration information or from the controllayer device, and obtains the path information and/or the restartingcounter parameter from the control layer device;

Specifically, in one implementing mode, as shown in FIG. 8, which is asignaling flowchart of obtaining information from the control layerdevice according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; the controllayer device sends the path managing parameter and/or the restartingcounter parameter to the forwarding layer device;

The path managing parameter includes: a sending period, a timethreshold, a threshold of times and other parameters;

In another implementing mode, as shown in FIG. 9, which is a signalingflowchart of obtaining information from the local configurationinformation according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; theforwarding layer device obtains the path managing parameter from thelocal configuration information, the control layer device sends therestarting counter parameter to the forwarding layer device;

The path managing parameter includes: a sending period, a timethreshold, a threshold of times and other parameters;

After the forwarding layer device obtains the restarting counterparameter from the control layer device, the control layer deviceperforms communication negotiation with the opposite-end device, thecommunication negotiation specifically is: a communication negotiationwith an opposite-end device which is ready to establish a communicationpath about establishing the session, or a communication negotiation withan opposite-end device which has already established a communicationpath about whether to release the session, the communication negotiationis the prior art, which will not be repeated here, after thecommunication negotiation with the opposite-end device, the controllayer device sends the session information to the forwarding layerdevice, where the session information carries a session path type (GTPor PMIP), a source IP address, a source port, a destination IP address,and a destination port.

Step 620, When the session information is of establishing a session, theforwarding layer device determines whether to increase a path with theopposite-end device;

Specifically, according to the description of step 610, after thecontrol layer device communicates with the opposite-end device aboutestablishing GTP bearer or PMIP session, the control layer device sendsthe session information to the forwarding layer device, when the sessioninformation is of establishing the session, the forwarding layer devicedetermines whether to increase the path with the opposite-end device, ifthe forwarding layer device determines that it is the first time toestablish the GTP bearer or PMIP session with the opposite-end device,it deems necessary to increase the path, and will increase the path withthe opposite-end device;

After increasing the path with the opposite-end device, the forwardinglayer device sends response information to the control layer device, andsets a path counter for this path; the response information is used tonotify the control layer device that the path has been increased withthe opposite-end device;

Optionally, after increasing the path with the opposite-end device, theforwarding layer device can also self-define a path label set for thepath; or the forwarding layer device can identify the path using thepath type, the path IP address, and the path port carried in the pathinformation, so the response information also includes the path label ofthe path;

According to the description of step 610, after communicating with theopposite-end device about being ready to release the GTP bearer or PMIPsession, the control layer device carries information of deleting thepath in the session information, and sends the session information tothe forwarding layer device, the forwarding layer device determineswhether to delete the path, if determining that it is the last GTPbearer or PMIP session with the opposite-end device, the forwardinglayer device deletes the existing path with the opposite-end device, andsends response information to the control layer device, to notify thecontrol layer device that the existing path with the opposite-end devicehas been deleted;

It should be noted that, it has been described in step 610 that the pathmanaging parameter can be obtained from the local configurationinformation of the forwarding layer or from the control layer device,when the values of the obtained path managing parameter are different,the path managing parameter sent by the control layer device is used inpreference, moreover, the path managing parameter sent by the controllayer device is applicable for one path as well as a plurality of paths;

Step 630, If increasing the path with the opposite-end device, theforwarding layer device identifies the state of the path and/or thestate of the opposite-end device using the path managing parameterand/or the restarting counter parameter replied by the opposite-enddevice;

Specifically, according to the description of step 620, the forwardinglayer device identifies the state of the established path and/or thestate of the corresponding opposite-end device using the obtained pathmanaging parameter and/or the restarting counter parameter, the specificprocess is, as shown in FIG. 10, which is a signaling flowchart ofidentifying the state of the path and the state of the opposite-enddevice according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure:

according to the time threshold, the forwarding layer device sends echorequest information to the opposite-end device periodically, the periodcan be set as needed, such as 30 seconds; the echo request informationcan further include the restarting counter parameter, the forwardinglayer device determines whether the echo response information sent bythe opposite-end device is received within the time threshold; if theforwarding layer device receives the echo response information sent bythe opposite-end device within the time threshold, the forwarding layerdevice clears the path counter of this path, meanwhile, determineswhether the echo response information includes the restarting counterparameter replied by the opposite-end device, if the echo responseinformation includes the restarting counter parameter replied by theopposite-end device, identifies whether the value of the restartingcounter parameter is changed (generally, whether the value of therestarting counter parameter is incremented by 1), if the value of therestarting counter parameter is incremented by 1, the forwarding layerdevice confirms that the opposite-end device has been reset, then setsthe state of the opposite-end device as a reset state;

if the echo response information sent by the opposite-end device is notreceived within the time threshold, the forwarding layer device makesthe value of the path counter of this path be incremented by 1;

then the forwarding layer device determines whether the value of thepath counter of this path exceeds the threshold of times; if the valueof the path counter of this path exceeds the threshold of times, setsthe state of this path as a fault state.

Step 640, The forwarding layer device reports the fault state of thepath and/or the reset state of the opposite-end device to the controllayer device when the path fails and/or the opposite-end device isreset, releases all sessions on the failed path and/or on the pathconnected with the reset opposite-end device.

Specifically, according to the description of step 630, when the pathfails and/or the opposite-end device is reset, the forwarding layerdevice reports the fault state of the path and/or the reset state of theopposite-end device to the control layer device using the path label orusing the path type, the path IP address, and the path port carried inthe path information in step 620, meanwhile, releases the sessions onthe failed path and/or on the path connected with the reset opposite-enddevice by itself;

When the state of the path is the fault state, after reporting the faultstate of the path to the control layer device, the forwarding layerdevice releases all sessions on the failed path, clears the informationof the failed path, such as GTP bearer or PMIP session, or directlydelete the failed path;

When the state of the opposite-end device is the reset state, afterreporting the reset state of the opposite-end device to the controllayer device, the forwarding layer device releases all sessions on thepath, clears the information of the path, such as GTP bearer or PMIPsession, or directly delete the path;

Optionally, after the forwarding layer device processes the path withfault state or the reset state of the opposite-end device, it can alsoinclude steps of: receiving reset information of the control layerdevice itself which is sent by the control layer device, the resetinformation includes the restarting counter parameter which is reset bythe control layer device; sending notification information carrying thereset restarting counter parameter to the opposite-end device whichcommunicates with the control layer device, so that the opposite-enddevice can be notified that the control layer device resets itself; thesteps can be performed at any of the steps above;

Specifically, when the control layer device fails, the control layerdevice resets itself, after resetting itself, the control layer devicesends the reset information of itself to the forwarding layer device,the forwarding layer device receives the reset information of thecontrol layer device itself which is sent by the control layer device,where the reset information includes the restarting counter parameterwhich is reset by the control layer device; after receiving therestarting counter parameter which is reset by the control layer device,the forwarding layer device sends the notification information carryingthe reset restarting counter parameter to the opposite-end device whichcommunicates with the control layer device, so that all the opposite-enddevices can be notified that the control layer device resets itself, andcan reset the restarting counter parameters.

Optionally, after the forwarding layer device processes the path withfault state or the reset state of the opposite-end device, it can alsoinclude the step of: receiving first interface fault processinginformation sent by the control layer device;

Specifically, the control layer device also sends the first interfacefault processing information to the forwarding layer device, so as toinstruct the process mode of the forwarding layer device processinginterface fault when a problem of the interface between the controllayer device and the forwarding layer device occurs, the step can beperformed at any of the steps above;

The first interface fault processing information is instructed by thecontrol layer device for any or all of the sessions, the forwardinglayer device receives the first interface fault processing informationsent by the control layer device; the first interface fault processinginformation instructed by the control layer device for any of thesessions is set as the first priority, the first interface faultprocessing information instructed by the control layer device for all ofthe sessions is set as the second priority; or

The forwarding layer device self-defines second interface faultprocessing information, the self-defined second interface faultprocessing information is set as the third priority;

The first priority is higher than the second priority and the thirdpriority, the second priority is higher than the third priority;

When the interface with the control layer device fails, the forwardinglayer device processes according to the priority of the receivedinterface fault processing information;

The interface fault processing information specifically is: terminatingthe connected session immediately when the interface with the controllayer device fails; or terminating the connected session after theallocated quota is exhausted when the interface with the control layerdevice fails; or keeping the connected session when the interface withthe control layer device fails.

By applying the method for processing the communication path accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure, the forwarding layer deviceobtains various parameters from the control layer device or the localconfiguration information, determines by itself, according to theinstruction of the control layer device, whether to establish or deletethe path with the opposite-end device, identifies the state of the pathand the state of the opposite-end device, and performs correspondingprocess to the failed path and/or the path connected with the resetopposite-end device, compared to the prior art that the control layerdevice performs corresponding process by itself to the failed path orthe path connected with the reset opposite-end device, signaling orinformation between the control layer device and the forwarding layerdevice is reduced, and misjudgment of the path or the opposite-enddevice reset is reduced.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a devicefor processing a communication path, as shown in FIG. 11, which is adiagram of a device for processing a communication path, which is usedto implement the method of embodiment 1, according to embodiment 3 ofthe present disclosure, each unit of the device exists in a forwardinglayer device, the device includes: an obtaining unit 1110, anidentifying unit 1120 and an executing unit 1130;

The obtaining unit 1110 is configured to obtain a path managingparameter from local configuration information or from a control layerdevice, obtain path information and/or a restarting counter parameterfrom the control layer device, and send the obtained path managingparameter, path information and/or restarting counter parameter to theidentifying unit;

The identifying unit 1120 is configured to receive the path managingparameter, the path information and/or the restarting counter parametersent by the obtaining unit, increase a path with an opposite-end devicewhen the path information is of increasing a path, identify the state ofthe path and/or the state of the opposite-end device using the pathmanaging parameter and/or the restarting counter parameter replied bythe opposite-end device, and send the state of the path and/or the stateof the opposite-end device to the executing unit;

The executing unit 1130 is configured to receive the state of the pathand/or the state of the opposite-end device sent by the identifyingunit, report the fault state of the path and/or the reset state of theopposite-end device to the control layer device when the path failsand/or the opposite-end device is reset, and release sessions on thefailed path and/or on the path connected with the reset opposite-enddevice;

The obtaining unit 1110 is configured to receive reset information ofthe control layer device itself which is sent by the control layerdevice, where the reset information includes the restarting counterparameter which is reset by the control layer device, and send therestarting counter parameter which is reset by the control layer deviceto a sending unit;

The identifying unit 1120 is configured to receive the restartingcounter parameter which is reset by the control layer device, sendnotification information to the opposite-end device, the notificationinformation carries the reset restarting counter parameter, so that theopposite-end device can be notified that the control layer device resetsitself.

The executing unit 1130 is specifically configured to: delete the failedpath or delete the path connected with the reset opposite-end devicewhen the path fails and/or the opposite-end device is reset.

The identifying unit 1120 is also configured to, send responseinformation to the control layer device, the response information isused to notify the control layer device that the path has been increasedwith the opposite-end device;

The identifying unit 1120 can be further configured to, receive a pathlabel which is set by the control layer device for the path, orself-define a path label of the path, so that the response informationalso includes the path label of the path; or identify the path using thepath type, the path IP address, and the path port carried in the pathinformation;

The executing unit 1130 is specifically configured to, report the faultstate of the path and/or the reset state of the opposite-end device tothe control layer device using the path label or using the path type,path IP address, path port carried in the path information.

The identifying unit 1120 is also configured to set a path counter forthe path;

The path managing parameter includes a time threshold and a threshold oftimes;

The identifying unit 1120 is further specifically configured to,according to the time threshold, send echo request information to theopposite-end device periodically, the echo request information canfurther include the restarting counter parameter;

determine whether the echo response information sent by the opposite-enddevice is received within the time threshold;

if the echo response information sent by the opposite-end device isreceived within the time threshold, clear the path counter, determinewhether the echo response information includes the restarting counterparameter replied by the opposite-end device, if the echo responseinformation includes the restarting counter parameter replied by theopposite-end device, identify whether the value of the restartingcounter parameter is incremented by 1, if the value of the restartingcounter parameter in the echo response information is incremented by 1,set the state of the opposite-end device as a reset state;

if the echo response information sent by the opposite-end device is notreceived within the time threshold, make the value of the path counterbe incremented by 1;

determine whether the value of the path counter exceeds the threshold oftimes;

if the value of the path counter exceeds the threshold of times, set thestate of the path as a fault state.

The identifying unit 1120 is also specifically configured to: when thepath information is of deleting the path, delete the path which has beenestablished with the opposite-end device;

send response information to the control layer device, to notify thecontrol layer device that the established path is deleted.

The device also includes: a first receiving unit 1140, configured toreceive first interface fault processing information which is instructedby the control layer device for any or all of the sessions; or

a configuring unit 1150, configured to self-define second interfacefault processing information;

a setting unit 1160, configured to set the first interface faultprocessing information instructed by the control layer device for any ofthe sessions as the first priority, set the first interface faultprocessing information instructed by the control layer device for all ofthe sessions as the second priority, set the self-defined secondinterface fault processing information as the third priority;

a processing unit 1170, configured to process according to thepriorities of the first interface fault processing information or thesecond interface fault processing information when the interface withthe control layer device fails;

Wherein, the first interface fault processing information or the secondinterface fault processing information specifically is: terminating theconnected session immediately when the interface with the control layerdevice fails; or terminating the connected session after the allocatedquota is exhausted when the interface with the control layer devicefails; or keeping the connected session when the interface with thecontrol layer device fails.

By applying the device for processing the communication path accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure, the obtaining unit obtainsvarious parameters from the control layer device or from the localconfiguration information, the identifying unit increases or deletes thepath with the opposite-end device according to the instruction of thecontrol layer device, and identifies the state of the path and/or thestate of the opposite-end device using the obtained various parameters,the executing unit performs corresponding process to the failed pathand/or the path connected with the reset opposite-end device, comparedto the prior art, the control layer device performs correspondingprocess by itself to the failed path or the path connected with thereset opposite-end device, signaling or information between the controllayer device and the forwarding layer device is reduced, and misjudgmentof the path or the opposite-end device reset is reduced.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a devicefor processing a communication path, as shown in FIG. 12, which is adiagram of a device for processing a communication path, which is usedto implement the method of embodiment 2, according to embodiment 4 ofthe present disclosure, each unit of the device exists in a forwardinglayer device, the device includes: an obtaining unit 1200, a determiningunit 1210, an identifying unit 1220 and an executing unit 1230;

The obtaining unit 1200 in the device is configured to obtain a pathmanaging parameter from local configuration information or a controllayer device, obtain session information and/or a restarting counterparameter from the control layer device, send the session information tothe determining unit, and send the path managing parameter and/or therestarting counter parameter to the identifying unit;

The determining unit 1210 is configured to receive the sessioninformation sent by the obtaining unit, when the session information isof establishing a session, determine whether to increase a path with anopposite-end device, and send the determining result to the identifyingunit;

The identifying unit 1220 is configured to receive the path managingparameter and/or restarting counter parameter sent by the obtaining unitand receive the determining result sent by the determining unit, ifincreasing the path with the opposite-end device, identify the state ofthe path and/or the state of the opposite-end device using the pathmanaging parameter and/or the restarting counter parameter replied bythe opposite-end device, and send the identified state of the pathand/or the state of the opposite-end device to the executing unit;

The executing unit 1230 is configured to receive the state of the pathand/or the state of the opposite-end device sent by the identifyingunit, report the fault state of the path and/or the reset state of theopposite-end device to the control layer device when the path failsand/or the opposite-end device is reset, and release all sessions on thefailed path and/or on the path connected with the reset opposite-enddevice;

The obtaining unit 1200 is configured to receive reset information ofthe control layer device itself which is sent by the control layerdevice, where the reset information includes the restarting counterparameter which is reset by the control layer device, and send therestarting counter parameter which is reset by the control layer deviceto a sending unit;

The identifying unit 1220 is configured to receive the restartingcounter parameter which is reset by the control layer device, sendnotification information carrying the reset restarting counterparameter, to the opposite-end device which communicates with thecontrol layer device, so that the opposite-end device can be notifiedthat the control layer device resets itself.

The executing unit 1230 is specifically configured to: delete the failedpath or delete the path connected with the reset opposite-end devicewhen the path fails and/or the opposite-end device is reset;

The determining unit 1210 is specifically configured to: increase thepath with the opposite-end device when the establishing session is thefirst session with the opposite-end device;

The identifying unit 1220 is also configured to, send responseinformation to the control layer device, the response information isused to notify the control layer device that the path has been increasedwith the opposite-end device;

The identifying unit 1220 can be further configured to, self-define apath label of the path, so that the response information also includesthe path label of the path; or identify the path using the path type,the path IP address, and the path port carried in the path information;

The executing unit 1230 is specifically configured to, report the faultstate of the path and/or the reset state of the opposite-end device tothe control layer device using the path label or using the path type,the path IP address, and the path port carried in the path information;

The identifying unit 1220 is also configured to set a path counter forthe path;

The path managing parameter includes a time threshold and a threshold oftimes;

The identifying unit 1220 is further specifically configured to,according to the time threshold, send echo request information to theopposite-end device periodically, the echo request information includesthe restarting counter parameter;

determine whether the echo response information sent by the opposite-enddevice is received within the time threshold;

if the echo response information sent by the opposite-end device withinthe time threshold, clear the path counter, determine whether the echoresponse information includes the restarting counter parameter repliedby the opposite-end device, if the echo response information includesthe restarting counter parameter replied by the opposite-end device,identify whether the value of the restarting counter parameter isincremented by 1, if the value of the restarting counter parameter inthe echo response information is incremented by 1, set the state of theopposite-end device as a reset state;

if the echo response information sent by the opposite-end device is notreceived within the time threshold, make the value of the path counterbe incremented by 1;

determine whether the value of the path counter exceeds the threshold oftimes;

if the value of the path counter exceeds the threshold of times, set thestate of the path as a fault state.

The determining unit 1210 is also specifically configured to: determinewhether to delete the path with the opposite-end device when the sessioninformation is of deleting the path;

when the deleting session information is the last session with theopposite-end device, delete the path which has been established with theopposite-end device;

send response information to the control layer device, to notify thecontrol layer device that the established path is deleted.

The device also includes: a first receiving unit 1240, configured toreceive first interface fault processing information which is instructedby the control layer device for any or all of the sessions; or

a configuring unit 1250, configured to self-define second interfacefault processing information;

a setting unit 1260, configured to set the first interface faultprocessing information instructed by the control layer device for any ofthe sessions as the first priority, set the first interface faultprocessing information instructed by the control layer device for all ofthe sessions as the second priority, set the self-defined secondinterface fault processing information as the third priority;

a processing unit 1270, configured to process according to thepriorities of the first interface fault processing information or thesecond interface fault processing information when the interface withthe control layer device fails;

Wherein, the first interface fault processing information or the secondinterface fault processing information specifically is: terminating theconnected session immediately when the interface with the control layerdevice fails; or terminating the connected session after the allocatedquota is exhausted when the interface with the control layer devicefails; or keeping the connected session when the interface with thecontrol layer device fails.

By applying the device for processing the communication path accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure, the obtaining unit obtainsvarious parameters from the control layer device or the localconfiguration information, the determining unit determines by itself,according to the instruction of the control layer device, whether toestablish or delete the path with the opposite-end device, theidentifying unit identifies the state of the path and/or the state ofthe opposite-end device, the executing unit performs correspondingprocess to the failed path and/or the path connected with the resetopposite-end device, compared to the prior art, the control layer deviceperforms corresponding process by itself to the failed path or the pathconnected with the reset opposite-end device, signaling or informationbetween the control layer device and the forwarding layer device isreduced, and misjudgment of the path or the opposite-end device reset isreduced.

Furthermore, a device for processing a communication path according toembodiments of the present disclosure can also adopt implementing modeas follows, so as to implement the method for processing thecommunication path according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure,as shown in FIG. 13, the device for processing the communication pathincludes: a receiver 1310, a processor 1320 and a memory 1330.

The receiver 1310 in the device is configured to obtain path managingparameter from local configuration information or from a control layerdevice, obtain path information and/or a restarting counter parameterfrom the control layer device, and send the obtained path managingparameter, path information and/or restarting counter parameter to theprocessor;

The processor 1320 is configured to receive the path managing parameter,the path information and/or the restarting counter parameter sent by thereceiver, increase a path with an opposite-end device when the pathinformation is of increasing a path, identify the state of the pathand/or the state of the opposite-end device using the path managingparameter and/or the restarting counter parameter replied by theopposite-end device;

The processor 1320 is also configured to report the fault state of thepath and/or the reset state of the opposite-end device to the controllayer device when the path fails and/or the opposite-end device isreset, and release all sessions on the failed path and/or on the pathconnected with the reset opposite-end device;

The memory 1330 is configured to store the execution procedure of theprocessor.

The receiver 1310 is specifically configured to, receive resetinformation of the control layer device itself which is sent by thecontrol layer device, where the reset information includes therestarting counter parameter which is reset by the control layer device,and send the restarting counter parameter which is reset by the controllayer device to the processor, the processor sends the restartingcounter parameter which is reset by the control layer device to atransmitter;

The device also includes: the transmitter 1340, configured to receivethe restarting counter parameter which is reset by the control layerdevice and sent by the processor, send notification information carryingthe reset restarting counter parameter, to the opposite-end device whichcommunicates with the control layer device, so that the opposite-enddevice can be notified that the control layer device resets itself.

The processor 1320 is also specifically configured to: delete the failedpath or delete the path connected with the reset opposite-end devicewhen the path fails and/or the opposite-end device is reset.

The processor 1320 is also specifically configured to, send responseinformation to the control layer device, the response information isused to notify the control layer device that the path has been increasedwith the opposite-end device;

The processor 1320 can be further configured to, receive a path labelwhich is set by the control layer device for the path, or self-define apath label of the path, so that the response information also includesthe path label of the path; or identify the path using the path type,the path IP address, and the path port carried in the path information;

The processor 1320 is further specifically configured to, report thefault state of the path and/or the reset state of the opposite-enddevice to the control layer device using the path label or using thepath type, the path IP address, and the path port carried in the pathinformation.

The processor 1320 is also specifically configured to set a path counterfor the path;

The transmitter 1340 is also specifically configured to send echorequest information to the opposite-end device;

The receiver 1310 is also specifically configured to receive echoresponse information sent by the opposite-end device, and send the echoresponse information to the processor;

The path managing parameter includes a time threshold and a threshold oftimes;

The processor 1320 is also specifically configured to: according to thetime threshold, instruct the transmitter periodically to send the echorequest information to the opposite-end device, the echo requestinformation can further include the restarting counter parameter;

determine whether the echo response information is received within thetime threshold;

if the echo response information sent by the opposite-end device isreceived within the time threshold, clear the path counter, determinewhether the echo response information includes the restarting counterparameter replied by the opposite-end device, if the echo responseinformation includes the restarting counter parameter replied by theopposite-end device, identify whether the value of the restartingcounter parameter is incremented by 1, if the value of the restartingcounter parameter in the echo response information is incremented by 1,set the state of the opposite-end device as a reset state;

if the echo response information is not received within the timethreshold, make the value of the path counter be incremented by 1;

determine whether the value of the path counter exceeds the threshold oftimes;

if the value of the path counter exceeds the threshold of times, set thestate of the path as a fault state.

The processor 1320 is also specifically configured to: when the pathinformation is of deleting the path, delete the path which has beenestablished with the opposite-end device, send response information tothe control layer device, to notify the control layer device that theestablished path is deleted.

The receiver 1340 is also specifically configured to: receive firstinterface fault processing information which is instructed by thecontrol layer device for any or all of the sessions;

The processor 1320 is specifically configured to, self-define toconfigure second interface fault processing information;

The processor 1320 is also specifically configured to, set the firstinterface fault processing information instructed by the control layerdevice for any of the sessions as the first priority, set the firstinterface fault processing information instructed by the control layerdevice for all of the sessions as the second priority, set theself-defined second interface fault processing information as the thirdpriority;

The processor 1320 is further specifically configured to processaccording to the priorities of the first interface fault processinginformation or the second interface fault processing information whenthe interface with the control layer device fails;

Wherein, the first interface fault processing information or the secondinterface fault processing information specifically is: terminating theconnected session immediately when the interface with the control layerdevice fails; or terminating the connected session after the allocatedquota is exhausted when the interface with the control layer devicefails; or keeping the connected session when the interface with thecontrol layer device fails.

By applying the device for processing the communication path accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure, the receiver obtains variousparameters from the control layer device or from the local configurationinformation, and sends the various parameters to the processor, theprocessor increases or deletes the path with the opposite-end deviceaccording to the instruction of the control layer device, and identifiesthe state of the path and/or the state of the opposite-end device, theprocessor also performs corresponding process to the failed path and/orthe path connected with the reset opposite-end device, compared to theprior art that the control layer device performs corresponding processby itself to the failed path or the path connected with the resetopposite-end device, signaling or information between the control layerdevice and the forwarding layer device is reduced, and misjudgment ofthe path or the opposite-end device reset is reduced.

Furthermore, a device for processing a communication path according toembodiments of the present disclosure can also adopt implementing modeas follows, so as to implement the method for processing thecommunication path according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure,as shown in FIG. 14, the device for processing the communication pathincludes: a receiver 1410, a processor 1420 and a memory 1430.

The receiver 1410 in the device, is configured to obtain a path managingparameter from local configuration information or from a control layerdevice, obtain path information and/or a restarting counter parameterfrom the control layer device, and send the obtained path managingparameter, path information and/or restarting counter parameter to theprocessor;

The processor 1420, is configured to receive the path managingparameter, the session information and/or the restarting counterparameter sent by the receiver, determine whether to increase a pathwith an opposite-end device when the session information is ofestablishing a session;

The processor 1420 is also configured to, if increasing the path withthe opposite-end device, identify the state of the path and/or the stateof the opposite-end device using the path managing parameter and/or therestarting counter parameter replied by the opposite-end device;

The processor 1420 is also configured to report the fault state of thepath and/or the reset state of the opposite-end device to the controllayer device when the path fails and/or the opposite-end device isreset, and release all sessions on the failed path and/or on the pathconnected with the reset opposite-end device;

The memory 1430 is configured to store the execution procedure of theprocessor.

The receiver 1410 is specifically configured to: receive resetinformation of the control layer device itself which is sent by thecontrol layer device, where the reset information includes therestarting counter parameter which is reset by the control layer device,and send the restarting counter parameter which is reset by the controllayer device to the processor, the processor sends the restartingcounter parameter which is reset by the control layer device to atransmitter;

The device also includes: the transmitter 1440, configured to receivethe restarting counter parameter which is reset by the control layerdevice and sent by the processor, send notification information,carrying the reset restarting counter parameter, to the opposite-enddevice which communicates with the control layer device, so that theopposite-end device can be notified that the control layer device resetsitself.

The processor 1420 is also specifically configured to: delete the failedpath or delete the path connected with the reset opposite-end devicewhen the path fails and/or the opposite-end device is reset.

The processor 1320 is also specifically configured to: send responseinformation to the control layer device, the response information isused to notify the control layer device that the path has been increasedwith the opposite-end device;

The processor 1420 can be further configured to: self-define a pathlabel of the path, so that the response information also includes thepath label of the path; or to identify the path using the path type, thepath IP address, and the path port carried in the path information;

The processor is further specifically configured to, report the faultstate of the path and/or the reset state of the opposite-end device tothe control layer device using the path label or using the path type,the path IP address, and the path port carried in the path information.

The processor 1420 is also specifically configured to set a path counterfor the path;

The transmitter 1440 is also specifically configured to send echorequest information to the opposite-end device;

The receiver 1410 is also specifically configured to receive echoresponse information sent by the opposite-end device, and send the echoresponse information to the processor;

The path managing parameter includes a time threshold and a threshold oftimes;

The processor 1420 is also specifically configured to: according to thetime threshold, instruct the transmitter periodically to send the echorequest information to the opposite-end device, the echo requestinformation can further include the restarting counter parameter;

determine whether the echo response information is received within thetime threshold;

if the echo response information sent by the opposite-end device isreceived within the time threshold, clear the path counter, determinewhether the echo response information includes the restarting counterparameter replied by the opposite-end device, if the echo responseinformation includes the restarting counter parameter replied by theopposite-end device, identify whether the value of the restartingcounter parameter is incremented by 1, if the value of the restartingcounter parameter in the echo response information is incremented by 1,set the state of the opposite-end device as a reset state;

if the echo response information is not received within the timethreshold, make the value of the path counter be incremented by 1;

determine whether the value of the path counter exceeds the threshold oftimes;

if the value of the path counter exceeds the threshold of times, set thestate of the path as a fault state.

The processor 1420 is also specifically configured to: when the sessioninformation is of deleting the session, determine whether to delete thepath with the opposite-end device;

delete the path which has been established with the opposite-end device,when the deleting session information is the last session with theopposite-end device;

send response information to the control layer device, to notify thecontrol layer device that the established path is deleted.

The receiver 1440 is also specifically configured to: receive firstinterface fault processing information which is instructed by thecontrol layer device for any or all of the sessions;

The processor 1420 is specifically configured to, self-define toconfigure second interface fault processing information;

The processor 1420 is also specifically configured to, set the firstinterface fault processing information instructed by the control layerdevice for any of the sessions as the first priority, set the firstinterface fault processing information instructed by the control layerdevice for all of the sessions as the second priority, set theself-defined second interface fault processing information as the thirdpriority;

The processor 1420 is further specifically configured to processaccording to the priorities of the first interface fault processinginformation or the second interface fault processing information whenthe interface with the control layer device fails;

Wherein, the first interface fault processing information or the secondinterface fault processing information specifically is: terminating theconnected session immediately when the interface with the control layerdevice fails; or terminating the connected session after the allocatedquota is exhausted when the interface with the control layer devicefails; or keeping the connected session when the interface with thecontrol layer device fails.

By applying the device for processing the communication path accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure, the receiver obtains variousparameters from the control layer device or the local configurationinformation, and sends the various parameters to the processor and thememory, the processor determines by itself, according to the instructionof the control layer device, whether to increase or delete the path withthe opposite-end device, and identifies the state of the path and/or thestate of the opposite-end device, performs corresponding process to thefailed path and/or the path connected with the reset opposite-enddevice, compared to the prior art, the control layer device performscorresponding process by itself to the failed path or the path connectedwith the reset opposite-end device, signaling or information between thecontrol layer device and the forwarding layer device is reduced, andmisjudgment of the path or the opposite-end device reset is reduced.

Persons skilled in the art should also realize that, the units andalgorithm steps of each example described in combination with theembodiments disclosed herein can be implemented by an electronichardware, a computer software or a combination of the two, in order toclearly illustrate the interchangeability of the hardware and software,composition and steps of each example have been generally described inthe above descriptions according to the functions. It depends on thespecific application and design constraints of the technical solutionsthat these functions will be implemented by a hardware or a software.Persons skilled in the art can use various methods to implement thedescribed functions for each specific application, but suchimplementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of thepresent disclosure.

The methods and algorithm steps described in combination with theembodiments disclosed herein can be implemented by hardware, or arelevant hardware under the instruction of a program. The softwaremodule can be placed in a computer readable storage medium, such as arandom access memory (RAM), a memory, a read only memory (ROM), anelectrically programmable ROM, an electrically erasable programmableROM, a register, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any otherform of storage mediums known in the art.

The embodiments described above illustrate the objects, technicalsolutions and beneficial effects of the present disclosure in moredetails, it should be understood that, the above mentioned are onlyspecific embodiments of the present disclosure, but not intended tolimit the protection scope of the present disclosure, any modification,replacement, improvement etc. without departing from the spirit andprinciples of the present disclosure, should fall within the protectionscope of the present disclosure.

By applying the path managing device according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure, the forwarding layer device obtains variousparameters from the control layer device or the local network system,increases or deletes the path according to the instruction of thecontrol layer device, or determines by itself whether to increase ordelete the path with the opposite-end device, and identifies the stateof the path and/or the state of the opposite-end device using theobtained various parameters and reports to the control layer device,performs corresponding process according to the processing informationof the control layer device, compared to the prior art, signaling orinformation between the control layer device and the forwarding layerdevice is reduced, and misjudgment of the path or the opposite-enddevice reset is reduced.

What is claimed is:
 1. A forwarding plane device for managing a pathbetween the forwarding plane device and an opposite-end device usingpath processing parameters comprising a sending period, a time thresholdand a threshold of times, the forwarding plane device comprising: amemory configured to store processor-executable instructions; and aprocessor configured to execute the processor-executable instructions toenable the device to: consecutively send echo request information to theopposite-end device until one of the following occur: (i) receipt ofecho response information from the opposite-end device within thesending period, wherein the echo response information indicates at leasta state of the path, (ii) receipt of echo response information inresponse to the echo request information sent within the time threshold,wherein multiple echo request information may be sent within the timethreshold, and (iii) exceeding the threshold of times, which is amaximum number of consecutive times the time threshold is exceededwithout receiving the echo response information, wherein the timethreshold is a maximum length of time for receipt of the echo responseinformation in response to associated echo request information;determine whether the echo response information is received within thetime threshold; increase a value of a path counter associated with thepath between the forwarding plane device and the opposite-end device inresponse to the echo response information being not received within thetime threshold; report a fault state of the path to a control planedevice in response to the value of the path counter of the pathexceeding the threshold of times, which is a threshold of the value ofthe path counter; and release one or more sessions on the path.
 2. Theforwarding plane device according to claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther configured to execute the processor-executable instructions toenable the forwarding plane device to report the fault state of the pathto the control plane device using a path label or a path IP address foridentifying the path.
 3. The forwarding plane device according to claim1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute theprocessor-executable instructions to enable the forwarding plane deviceto receive the time threshold and the threshold of times from thecontrol plane device.
 4. The forwarding plane device according to claim1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute theprocessor-executable instructions to enable the forwarding plane deviceto clear the path counter of the path in response to the echo responseinformation being received within the time threshold.
 5. A method foridentifying a state of a path between a forwarding plane device and anopposite-end device using path processing parameters comprising asending period, a time threshold and a threshold of times, the methodcomprising: consecutively sending, by the forwarding plane device, echorequest information to the opposite-end device until one of thefollowing occur: (i) receipt of echo response information from theopposite-end device within the sending period, wherein the echo responseinformation indicates at least a state of the path, (ii) receipt of echoresponse information in response to an associated consecutive echorequest information within the time threshold, wherein multiple echorequest information may be sent within the time threshold, and (iii)exceeding the threshold of times, which is a maximum number ofconsecutive times the time threshold is exceeded without receiving theecho response information, wherein the time threshold is a maximumlength of time for receipt of the echo response information in responseto associated echo request information; determining, by the forwardingplane device, whether the echo response information is received withinthe time threshold; increasing, by the forwarding plane device, a valueof a path counter associated with the path between the forwarding planedevice and the opposite-end device in response to the echo responseinformation being not received within the time threshold; reporting, bythe forwarding plane device, a fault state of the path to a controlplane device in response to the value of the path counter of the pathexceeding the threshold of times, which is a threshold of the value ofthe path counter; and releasing, by the forwarding plane device, one ormore sessions on the path.
 6. The method according to claim 5, whereinreporting, by the forwarding plane device, the fault state of the pathcomprises reporting, by the forwarding plane device, the fault state ofthe path to the control plane device using a path label or a path IPaddress for identifying the path.
 7. The method according to claim 5,further comprising receiving, by the forwarding plane device, the timethreshold and the threshold of times from the control plane device. 8.The method according to claim 5, further comprising clearing the pathcounter of the path in response to the echo response information beingreceived within the time threshold.
 9. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, uponexecution by a computer, cause the computer to carry out at least thefollowing operations for managing a path between a forwarding planedevice and an opposite-end device using path processing parameterscomprising a sending period, a time threshold and a threshold of times:consecutively sending echo request information on the path to anopposite-end device until one of the following occur: (i) receipt ofecho response information from the opposite-end device within thesending period, wherein the echo response information indicates at leasta state of the path, (ii) receipt of echo response information inresponse to an associated echo request information within the timethreshold, wherein multiple echo request information may be sent withinthe time threshold, and (iii) exceeding the threshold of times, which isa maximum number of consecutive times the time threshold is exceededwithout receiving the echo response information, wherein the timethreshold is a maximum length of time for receipt of the echo responseinformation in response to associated echo request information;determining whether the echo response information is received within thetime threshold; increasing a value of the path counter associated withthe path in response to the echo response information being not receivedwithin the time threshold; reporting a fault state of the path to acontrol plane device in response to the value of the path counterexceeding the threshold of times, which is a threshold of the value ofthe path counter; and releasing one or more sessions on the path. 10.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim9, wherein the operation of reporting the fault state of the pathcomprises reporting the fault state of the path to the control planedevice using a path label or a path IP address for identifying the path.11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according toclaim 9, wherein the operations further include receiving the timethreshold and the threshold of times from the control plane device. 12.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim9, wherein the operations further include clearing the path counter ofthe path in response to the echo response information being receivedwithin the time threshold.